The history of photography has been marked by several striking photographs which have been etched into the minds of people across the globe; iconic images and subjects that speak a thousand words.

Whether they entered the public eye as pieces of photojournalism, fashion photography, landscape photography, portraiture, documentary photography of historical events, or art photography, the most famous and iconic photographs in the world come from a variety of genres and eras.

These instantly recognizable photographs have not only made a mark on the world, but they have also made the photographer famous, too.

Renowned and great photographers such as Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Raymond Depardon and Robert Doisneau aren’t the only ones to have left behind an impressive legacy!

1. Le Baiser de l’Hôtel de ville by Robert Doisneau

Published in Life magazine in 1950, Doisneau’s photograph, ‘Le Baiser de l’Hôtel de ville’ (or ‘The Kiss at theHôtel de ville’ in English) is regarded as one of the most romantic pictures ever taken.

This black and white photograph has also become a symbol of the humanist photography movement.

This movement was driven by Robert Doisneau, who strived to capture the essence of humanity in the years following the Second World War.

The Kiss: One of the world’s more romantic photographs ¦ source: BBC – Atelier Robert Doisneau, 2016

As France was in a state of disrepair following the war, a large amount of Doisneau’s work depicts citizens of Paris in their everyday lives. This included school pupils and couples as well as homeless people.

Photographing the people of Paris in this way gave Doisneau a means of creating a portrait of French society at that time.

2. The Vulture and the Little Girl by Kevin Carter

This photograph has been viewed controversially for a long time.

Taken in 1993 by young photographer Kevin Carter, the moment depicts the consequences of famine in South Sudan.

Kevin Carter sought to bear witness to the difficulties faced by those affected and provoke a reaction on an international scale by capturing the scene of a young, starving girl curled up on the ground.

The harrowing scene that shocked the world ¦ source: rarehistoricalphotos.com

Carter won the Pulitzer Prize for this photograph; however, he was accused of having not aided this situation and ended his own life a few months later.

It was later learnt that the young girl in the photograph had been found alive and well.

3. Afghan Girl by Steve McCurry

Taken in June 1984, the portrait of the young Afghan girl known as Sharbat Gula is one of the most recognisable in the world.

McCurry’s Afghan Girl appeared on the cover of National Geographic in 1985 ¦ source: WFAE

At the time this photograph was taken, Sharbat Gula was twelve years old.

Perhaps the most striking part of this portrait is the young girl’s green eyes.

As McCurry took this photograph while travelling in Pakistan, the Afghan Girl can be used as an example of travel photography as well as portraiture.

4. Tank Man by Jeff Widener

Tank Man, which was taken in 1989, is the symbol of one student’s rebellion against the suppression of the Chinese army.

This photograph was taken at a demonstration against corruption. As the number of demonstrators continued to grow, the Chinese government made the decision to use the force of the army to restore order.

The driver of the tank refused to keep moving forward, contrary to the orders of his superiors.

5. Heart of Voh by Yann Arthus Bertrand

The Heart of Voh (or Cœur de Voh, as it is called in French) is one of the world’s most famous pictures from the not-so-famous Yann Arthus Bertrand.

Taken in 1990, the photograph represents the mangrove, a forest between land and water in New Caledonia.

This type of vegetation covers over 75% of tropical land, representing 15 million hectares around the world.

This aerial image showed New Caledonia to the rest of the world ¦ source: Yann Arthus-Bertrand

When taking this photo, Bertrand, as a keen landscape photographer, hoped to alert people to the environmental issues in the area.

6. V-J Day in Times Square by Alfred Eisenstaedt

It was at the end of the Second World War that photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captured this moment between an American sailor and a nurse in Times Square.

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